On Easter Sunday I was challenged to walk (well more like scrambled, slip and slide, pulled, supported….)  up Lion’s Head, the reward being a beautiful pair of blue eyes waiting for me at the top. I had to admit that despite having lived in Cape Town for 28 years, I had never been up the mountain before, a Cape Town icon.  (more…)

I was recently asked if I would be leaving the country on Day Zero, projected to be 16 April currently, something that had never crossed my mind! It appears that a large number of locals are making plans to leave Cape Town, and reside elsewhere in our country or internationally, where they will have access to water! Quite frankly, I wouldn’t miss Day Zero for anything, as Cape Town will be making world history in being the first city in the world to run out of water!  (more…)

During the course of this week I had the idea to check out top outlets for their Easter food items, partly guided by their Facebook posts. I found five shops selling Easter biscuits and chocolate items, Four & Twenty Café offering by far the largest selection of Easter goodies, and the best quality items too. My Sugar offers the most creative Easter eggs.

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How does Chef Jenny Morris do it? In one week she has launched her new series of ‘Jenny and Reza’s Fabulous Food Academy on Food Network, launched her new ‘World Atlas of Food: 100 countries,  a world of flavours’, and has launched her new Jenny Morris Giggling Gourmet range of wines made (more…)

With minimal notice to the residents and businesses of Camps Bay, using nothing more than media statements, the City of Cape Town announced the closure of a large part of Camps Bay Drive, due to R20 million roadworks undertaken between the Geneva Drive and Houghton Road turn-offs for the next five months, which commenced a week ago. Speaking to a selection of businesses, the Victoria Road restaurants have felt little or no impact of the roadworks on their business, while guest houses in the suburb appear to be taking some strain.  The long-term benefit for not only Camps Bay, but for Cape Town in general, is recognised.

In the days leading up to 20 April, the start of the roadworks, the City of Cape Town hastily put up yellow signs all (more…)

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage  Facebook:  click here

The 45th Two Oceans Marathon will be held on Saturday 4 April, and is synonymous with the Easter weekend in Cape Town.   It is estimated that the event will contribute R266 million or more to the economy of Cape Town and the Western Cape. The marathon is described as the most beautiful in the world, with its route running along the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

In 1970 the Two Oceans Marathon was held for the first time, with only 24 runners. Now the race attracts 27000 runners, about half of them coming from outside the Western Cape.  City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events, and Marketing (more…)

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   FlySafair has been granted its license to operate domestic flights, having got its local ownership at a level below 75%, as required.

*   The City of Cape Town is threatening an intensive law and order program over the Easter weekend, with roadblocks in conjunction with the SA Police, aimed at reducing accidents.

*   Honest Chocolate has created a unique collection of chocolate busts of President Jacob Zuma, Helen Zille, Mamphela Ramphele, and Julius Malema, to tie in with the forthcoming General Election, costing R70 each or R280 for the set.  They are available at their outlets at 66 Wale Street and 66 Albert Road in Woodstock. (received via e-mail from Honest Chocolate)

*   Tourists who overstay their visa while visiting South Africa may face a two year ban (more…)

It was less an Easter weekend breakaway, and more the Two Oceans Marathon, that filled up Cape Town in particular this weekend, an astounding 28000 runners from Cape Town, other parts of the country, and other countries participating in the Half and Full Marathon yesterday. It is probably one of the last busy tourism weekends for a few months, as the end of the Easter weekend signals the end of the tourist summer season.

A media statement received from Western Cape Tourism Minister Alan Winde estimates the contribution of The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon at R80 million.  It is a shame that the Easter weekend appears to co-incide with extreme weather conditions, the gale force South Easter blowing in excess of 100 km/hour yesterday, being a challenge for many runners, as was the torrential rain a year ago.

This weekend saw the start of another large event, taking place in Oudtshoorn, being the ABSA Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), running for a week.  The Minister’s estimate of the economic contribution of the KKNK is R95 million.

Other events this weekend were a soccer match between Ajax Cape Town and AmaZulu at the Cape Town Stadium (but poorly advertised), and the Raka unplugged music festival in Swellendam from tomorrow until 3 April.  World-renowned Shanghai-born and New York-based Tian Jiang pianist performed at a well-attended charity performance in Franschhoek, organised by La Residence for the Lelieblom House for Children and the Stuart Andrew McFarlane Foundation for Motor Neuron Disease, and attracting visitors from Johannesburg and London.

Events certainly attract tourists to Cape Town.  It is a shame when they co-incide, and one hopes that the province and Wesgro, with the City of Cape Town, have many plans for events during the Seasonality problem-child period of May until September!

We wish all our guests, staff, suppliers and blog readers a Happy Easter.

Photograph: Orphanage Cocktail Emporium’s Hot Cross Bunny Cocktail, created in celebration of its first anniversary yesterday!

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @Whale Cottage